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Open City: True Story of the KC Crime Family 1900-1950 | 
 enlarge | Author: William Ouseley
Publisher: Leathers Publishing
Category: Book
Buy New: $19.95
Avg. Customer Rating:  2 reviews
Sales Rank: 266825
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 390
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.5
Dimensions (in): 8.9 x 6 x 0.4
ISBN: 1585974803
Dewey Decimal Number: 973
EAN: 9781585974801
ASIN: 1585974803
Publication Date: June 12, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: Brand New! Title will ship within 2 business days. Buyer will be notified of out-of-stock situations.
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
A riveting new biography about organized crime in Kansas City, Open City documents an era that continues to hold great fascination for history buffs as well as lovers of mystery and drama. It relates the roots of the secret crime societies of Southern Italy and Sicily. When they arrived in Kansas City, they became known as the Black Hand. From modest beginnings, the development of the criminal outfit is traced through Prohibition, its alliance with the Pendergast Machine, the roaring 20s and the birth of La Cosa Nostra. The story is told by a man who chose a career to fight the crime families of Kansas City. William Ouseley, who at one time held the position as Supervisor of the Organized Crime Squad, then spent years researching the rest of the stories and facts that led the city to be known as a center for organized crime activity in the first half of the twentieth century. The book that could be a novel is amazing in its detail. Many of these stories have never been published.
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| Customer Reviews:
 Dry, but Fact-Filled and Accurate History of the KC Mob September 5, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Written by a former FBI agent, he provides a great deal on the history and structure of the Kansas City Mafia from its inception to the beginning of the Civella era. He includes information from the Kefauver Hearings and background files, from the recently published MAFIA book (from the Federal Bureau of Narcotics and with an intro by Sam Giancana, the former crime boss's nephew), Nicola Gentile and the Kansas City Star. Unfortunately he gives no sourcing except for a small list of books that covers two pages. I wish he had footnotes or endnotes. The writing style is also rather dry and matter-of-fact, but it is accurate. As someone who has researched organized crime for over twenty years, I can definitely recommend this book.
 open city August 18, 2008
1 out of 4 found this review helpful
I am anxious to read this book! I grew up in the north-end "Little Italy" section of Kansas City (3rd and Gillis). I later became a Police
Offier,where I worked with the Metro Squad, including Mob incidents, as I was familiar with the "family" and knew many of them personally. I remember working with Bill Ouseley and George Lukenhoff at the Kansas City FBI office back in the 60's. John W. Yates, Jr.
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